'Ugly' win OK for Mustangs
Mundelein girls basketball coach Brian Evans and Prairie Ridge coach Steve Rick had a conversation Thursday.
Rick's Wolves had just completed pool play in Mundelein's Turkey Shootout by defeating Vernon Hills in a sloppy game.
"He goes, 'You've been coaching a lot longer than I have. Have you seen an uglier game than that?' " Evans said. "I go, 'Um, thanks for the compliment, and, yes, I have seen many, many uglier games than that.
"And I've been involved in a lot of them.' "
Evans then had a question for Rick, who apparently wasn't thrilled with his team's performance.
"I go, 'Would you rather win ugly or lose pretty?' " Evans said. "He goes, 'I don't know at this point.' I said, 'Dude, when you've been in it as long as I have, I'd rather be 28-2 winning ugly than 14-16 and playing pretty.' "
A couple of hours later, Mundelein took the court against Glenbrook North and hung on for a 45-36 win, an admitted "ugly" victory, Evans said.
The Mustangs shot 25 percent (13 of 52) -- and that's because they got hot in the fourth quarter (4 of 8).
"At this point right now with my young kids, I'll take it," said Evans, whose 10-player roster includes three sophomores and a freshman. "Right now we need to build some confidence in these young kids."
Mundelein improved to 3-0 in its own tournament, winning its pool. The Mustangs will face Rolling Meadows, which lost to Grayslake North 39-36 in Thursday's middle game at Mundelein, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The tournament wraps up Wednesday.
Mundelein led Glenbrook North 24-21 after three quarters, despite hitting only 9 of 44 shots.
The Spartans (2-1) stayed close nearly the entire fourth quarter, but the Mustangs got 2 free throws apiece from Kelsey O'Connor, Samantha Panitch and Ally Hanas, after Glenbrook North's Jessica Ponticelli hit a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to pull her team within 39-36.
"Glenbrook North played good defense. They definitely contested our outside shots," said Panitch, who made 7 of 9 free throws in the fourth. "We're accustomed to making our outside shots. That's how we've been winning games. But I think we kept our poise really well. We weren't hitting shots, but we kept shooting. I think that's important for our confidence."
O'Connor led Mundelein with 12 points, including two 3s. The junior and first-year varsity player has scored in double figures in each of the Mustangs' first three games.
"She's huge," Panitch said. "She's obviously going to score points for us. She can play defense. She's going to be an all-around player for us. I'm just happy for her that she's doing so well. She deserves it. She works hard."
Panitch finished with 11 points, while Kelsey Weyers and J.J. Sawchuk added 8 apiece for the Mustangs. Freshman Olivia Dunigan grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds.
Ponticelli and Jenna Wallis each had 10 points to lead Glenbrook North. Sophomore Natalie Jones scored 9 for the Spartans, who also had a tough night shooting (14 of 55).
Grayslake North 39, RM 36: The Knights improved to 2-1 in Mundelein's tournament, as Alex Lowry had 15 points and 7 rebounds.
Lowry had scored only 3 points in Grayslake North's first two games.
"We had a really good practice (Wednesday), and she's getting more confidence," coach Jim Sarver said of his 6-foot-1 senior. "When she gets the ball above her head, I don't know if there's a girl in the area outside of (Warren's 6-5 Sarah) Boothe that can reach as high as she can. She's got long arms."
Grayslake North had only 3 wins in its inaugural campaign last season.
"We're not making the silly mistakes," Sarver said. "That's what kind of killed us last year."
Grayslake North will play Vernon Hills at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Mundelein.
Prairie Ridge 45, VH 34: Prairie Ridge won its first game in the Mundelein tournament, while Vernon Hills fell to 0-3.
Round Lake 71, Rockford E. 25: At Harvard, Labrenthia Murdock scored 16 points, as the Panthers improved to 2-0.
Amber Phillips added 10 for Round Lake, which plays host Harvard at 8 p.m. today.